Automatic weir.



PATENTED FEB. 17, 1903.

E. 0. M'Awson,

AUTOMATIG WEIR.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 25, 1902.

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APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1902.

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' E. 0. MAWSON.

AUTOMATIC WEIR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1902.

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No. 720,721. I PATENTED PEB.17, 1903. E. 0. MAWSON.

AUTOMATIC WEIR.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 25, 1902;

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No. 720,721. PATENTED FEB. 17, 1903.

E. 0. MAWSUN.

AUTOMATIC WEIR.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1902.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST O. MAWSON, OF BOMBAY, INDIA.

AUTOMATiC WElR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 720,721, dated February 1 7, 1903.

Application filed July 25, 1902. erial No. 116,930. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST OSCAR MAW- soN, G. E., executive engineer and under seeretary to Government, Public Works Department, a citizen of Bombay, residing at Bombay, India, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Weirs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the construction of to automatic weirs composed of sluice-gates or fiash-boards forming-a movable crest on the top of fixed weirs, which while impounding water will with a small increase in the height of the water above the weir open automat- I 5 ically to allow the excess discharge to pass freely over the fixed weir and on the cessation of the flood will automatically close, retaining the water at a fixed level, the object being to impound water in rivers and tanks without raising the flood-level.

According to my invention the sluice-gates or flash-boards are arranged in pairs supported by suitable framework or masonry piers on the top of a fixed weir or foundation,

as shown in the accompanying drawings, in

which- Figure 1 is a cross-section of a pair of my automatic sluice-gates arranged with the connecting-link in tension and showing in dotted lines the gates in the positionsthey assume under various conditions. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional representation of the same, showing the gates shut. Fig. 3 is a like representation with the gates passing a flood and open, but not to their full extent. Fig. 4: is a like representation with the gates open to their full extent, passing a full flood. Fig. 5 is a similar sectional elevation of the same,'but arranged so that the Fig. 6 shows a modification of the link, in which a chain or rope is substituted for the more or less rigid link. Fig. 7 shows another modification in which the connection between the two gates is made by means of cogged gearing. Fig. 8 is an elevation, partly sectional, of the whole apparatus, half of it looking upstream and the other half downstream. Fig. 9 is a plan of the same, the left half being a top plan and Fig. 10 is a plan drawn in greater detail. Fig. 11 is a like front elevation, and Fig. 12 is a more detailed vertical cross-section of a pair of gates A and B and their connections.

In all the figures, A is the upstreamgate, which is pivoted at D and when closed rests against the fixed frame G and impounds the Water W on the upstream side.

B is the downstream or balance gate, which is pivoted at (J.

The two sluice-gates are connected by a connecting-link H, the ends of which are respectively jointed at F to a rigid tailpiece of the gate "A and at E to a suitable lug, flange,

or the like on the gate B.

The liner indicates the full-supply level,

the line j indicates the ordinary highest-flood level, and the line the exceptional high-flood level.

L is the bed of the stream.

In Fig. 6, H is a rope, chain, or other flexible connecting medium.

.In Fig. 7, m and u are toothed quadrants fixed on the axles of the two gates respectively.

The action is as follows: When owing to increased flow in the river water accumulates on the upstream side of gate A, it overflows into the space between the gates A and B, and gradually rising in the space between the gates it counterbalanc-cs the upstream pressure on gate A, while accumulating pressure on the downstream-gate B, thereby causing the gates to open by the agency of the con necting-link H and allowing a passage under the gates for the flood-water, which would otherwise all pass over their tops. As the volume of the fiood diminishes the sluice-gates adjust themselves automatically to the flow and close-when the impounded water falls to the level of the top of the upstream-gate.

The apparatus may be arranged so that the connecting-link H between the gates may when in operation be in tension, as is shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, or the arrangement may be such that the link is when in operation in compression, or the gates may be connected together by chains and pulleys, cog-wheels, or by any suitable equivalent device; but in any case the essential feature of the invention is the counterbalancing of the pressure of the impounded water on the upstreamgate by the pressure of the water flowing into the space between the gates and which latter pressure is at the same time accumulated on the downstream gate to form the motive power to open the gates and allow the flood to pass below instead of over them.

By my said improved weirs a very free passage is provided for flood-water or any water in excess of the normal level, so that in time v of flood or excessive flow the water is passed away with a minimum rise in the level of the stream above and without the level of the impounded water being reduced much below the normal.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. An improved automatic weir comprising an upstream gate or sluice A a downstream gate or sluice 13 connected by a link H and pivoted and mounted as hereinbefore described and shown in the drawings.

2. In an automatic weir the combination of a sluice-gate A for impounding the upstreamwater pivoted at or near its upper edge, and provided with a tailpiece with a joint at F carrying a link H jointed at E to a sluicegate 13 which is pivoted at C substantially as described.

3. An automatic weir comprising a pair of sluice-gates A and B respectively pivoted at D and C and connected by a rigid link H substantially as described and shown.

4. A weir with automatic sluice-gates A and B, the members of each pair being so connected by a link H substantially as shown in the drawings, that any excess of water above the weir flows over the sluice-gateA into the space between the gates and causes the gates to open and let down the water until it has reached a level at which it ceases to overflow the gate A when the gates automatically close.

5. The improved automatic weir comprising, in combination, a fixed weir, movable sluice-gates or flash-boards on the top of the fixed weir arranged in pairs, and a link connecting the two of each pair, whereby the overflowing of the water over the upstreamgate produces an accumulation between the pair of gates and counterbalances the pressure on the upstream-gate and at the same time operates the downstream-gate so as, by means of said connecting-link, to open the upper gate and let the flood-water pass until the level of it falls to or below the level of the top of the upstream-gate.

6. An automatic sluice-gate comprising, in combination, a pair of connected oppositelyswinging gates, one placed in advance of the other with reference to the direction of the stream, and adapted to be operated by the overflowing of the water over the upstreamgate, which water accumulates between the gates until it balances or overbalances the pressure of the head of water on the upstream-gate, and thus causes the upstreamgate to open and allow the flood-waters to pass until they no longer overflow the upstream-gate.

7. An automatic sluice-gate comprising, in combination, a movable upstream-gate normally held closed by the normal water-pressure, a movable downstream-gate which is opened by pressure of water flowing over the upstream -gate, and connecting mechanism between said gates, whereby, when the downstream-gate opens the upstream-gate is also opened.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature inpresence of two witnesses.

ERNEST O. MAWSON.

Witnesses: I. BYRNE, R. B. LENAHAN. 

